Tipping, taxes at the register, and the receipt
Why your $24 burrito ends up costing $30.60 — and how to do the tipping math in your head.
0% – 10%+
US sales tax range
Five states have NO sales tax (AK, DE, MT, NH, OR). Some cities push combined sales tax over 10% (Chicago, Long Beach).
Mental tipping math (US)
- •Move the decimal one left = 10%.
- •DOUBLE that = 20%.
- •Halfway between = 15%.
- •$24 → 10% = $2.40 → double = $4.80 (20%).
The bill ≠ what you'll pay. Always assume +8–10% tax + ~18–20% tip on restaurant meals. Plan around the OUT-THE-DOOR price, not the menu price.
Every receipt shows subtotal, tax, total. Once you see the breakdown a few times, you'll mentally pre-calc it without thinking.
Real life: meet The $24 burrito that costs $30.60
Burrito menu price: $24. Sales tax (8.5%): $2.04. 18% tip on subtotal: $4.32. Total out the door: $30.36. Easy to plan when you assume +25% on top of menu prices.
$24 menu → $30.36 out the door (~26% extra)
Takeaway
Menu prices lie. Always add ~25% mentally. Use the move-decimal-and-double trick for fast 20% tips.
Quickest way to mentally calculate a 20% tip on $24?
Takeaway: Pre-calculating tax and tip prevents 'I thought it was $24!' surprises.
Try together: Pull up a take-out menu and pre-calculate three different orders' actual out-the-door cost together using the decimal trick.